Don Goodman makes Willy Gnonto prediction at Leeds United after Elland Road development
Don Goodman is expecting Leeds United ace Willy Gnonto to have the best season of his career in terms of output after committing his future to the club.
Gnonto was once again linked with a move away from Elland Road in the summer transfer window but ultimately stayed put.
The Italy international has since signed a new contract and Goodman believes he can make a serious impact this campaign.
“Gnonto doesn’t have anything to prove to anyone, but all of a sudden he has now become more of the main man after player departures,” he told MOT Leeds News.
“Crysencio Summerville, Georginio Rutter, Archie Gray and others were getting more plaudits, but he actually had a good season last season after knuckling down.
“He now has a chance to have a stellar season this season in a side that will be challenging at the top. If he thinks the same as me, he can have an even better season this time around.
“He only made 19 starts last season and that will change this season, injury permitting. It stands to reason that his numbers will only go up and he will nudge 15 goals while getting double figures for assists.”
How many Leeds United goals does Willy Gnonto have?
Gnonto has scored 13 league goals for Leeds across the past two-and-a-bit seasons, four of those goals coming in the Premier League.
The Italian netted eight times in the Championship last season and assisted a further three goals in 39 outings – a decent but not spectacular return.
With Rutter and particularly Summerville now gone, there is no doubt that Gnonto now has to step up and deliver.
The 20-year-old has gone five games in a row in all competitions without a goal involvement since scoring against Portsmouth on the opening day.
Each of those have been starts, too, so it goes without saying that his return so far this term has not been good enough.
If he is to live up to the expectations and reach 25 goal involvements, as predicted by Goodman, he could do with putting in a top performance against Cardiff City this weekend.
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